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Forest Schools

Forest Schools aim to encourage and inspire through positive outdoor experiences. By participating in engaging, motivating and achievable tasks and activities in an outdoor environment children have the opportunity to develop a range of skills through play. They are also able to learn about the natural environment, how to handle risks and most importantly to use their own initiative to solve problems and co-operate with others. Forest School runs throughout the year, in all weathers. Children use full sized tools, play, learn boundaries of behaviour; both physical and social, establish and grow in confidence, self-esteem and become self-motivated.

Forest Schools will aim to develop:

Self Awareness

Self Regulation

Intrinsic motivation

Empathy

Good social communication skills

Independence

A positive mental attitude, self-esteem and confidence

Our forest school, based in the school grounds and at the local West Reservoir, also grows some of its own plants, as well as being home to guinea pigs and rabbits. Children from across the school, but especially in early years, are invited to interact with the animals, learn how to look after them and find out how animals live and behave. We also hosts annual visits from the Dogs Trust and animal conservation charities to introduce us to some of the animals that we can't keep in school.

Garden

Our school garden also offers children a chance to grow a huge range of fruit, vegetable and other plants, with a large annual strawberry and tomato crop, being joined by grapes, pears, plums and apples, we can eat what we grow too. Children learn how to look after plants, where they grow best, when to harvest different crops and what sort of mini-beasts to encourage or keep away from. All children have sessions in the garden, as well as the chance to join our gardening club. With our own school gardener to turn to, we are always looking to expand the range and offer more to the children.